First and Always

Peter Henriques highlights the color and drama of George Washington's life with this vivid and revealing portrait. First and Always is original, perceptive, persuasive, innovative in terms of its method, and highly appealing in terms of its execution. As both a writer and a historian, Henriques is at the top of his game. --Robert M. S. McDonald, United States Military Academy, editor of Sons of the Father: George Washington and His Proteges A pleasant collection of isolated essays on the first president. Although retired from his professorship at George Mason University, Henriques cannot resist writing about his favorite subject, delivering eight expert chapters... At least in theory, the Founding Fathers believed that slavery was wrong, but Washington was the only one whose will freed all of his slaves. Henriques' descriptions of some of Washington's slaves turn up surprises--e.g., that they owned property (including guns) and were occasionally entrusted with money. --Kirkus Reviews Peter Henriques's short, shrewd takes on Washington climax in a masterly essay on the passions that burned within him, and his lifelong effort to tame them to the service of liberty and his country. --Richard Brookhiser, author of Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington No one knows more about George Washington than Peter Henriques, who has spent years exploring nearly every nook and cranny of Washington's extraordinary life and character. In First and Always, Henriques assays the qualities that led to Washington's greatness, but he does not ignore the man's faults. The result is a balanced, nuanced, and illuminating portrait that is a must read for all who wish to understand George Washington. --John Ferling, author of Whirlwind: The American Revolution and the War That Won It I had thought Peter Henriques' previous book was one of the best I'd ever read about George Washington, but with the publication of Henriques' latest, I'm going to have to add another book to that select list. First and Always is wonderful--a fascinating, revelatory examination of our first president in all his startling complexity. Henriques pulls no punches when it comes to the darker, controversial sides of Washington's character, yet First and Always remains a balanced and deeply sympathetic portrayal of the leader without whom there would be no United States. --Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Valiant Ambition and In the Hurricane's Eye Those looking for further context for [Washington's] remarkable life will appreciate Mr. Henriques's thoughtful collection of essays, which share insights gained during decades of research and teaching.... Taken together, the disparate topics scrutinized in First and Always form a coherent and convincing study of Washington's character. --Wall Street Journal